Names In The News

Writer describes first eight weeks of "Onion SportsDome" as rough around the edges

In Chicago, Becky Schlikerman reports former White Sox scout VICTOR MATEO "pleaded guilty Thursday to mail fraud as part of a kickback scheme that led to three Sox staffers pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from poor Latin American prospects." Mateo "pleaded guilty to mailing an unnamed player a $70,000 signing-bonus check in November 2007." A sentencing date "has not been set" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/11).

SPOILED ONION: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth writes, "As rough around the edges as Comedy Central's 'ONION SPORTSDOME' has been through eight weeks of programming -- the snarkiness we thought would reverberate from it so far has been drowned out in too much potty-flavored junior-high school humor -- the real problem we've discovered surrounds 'reporter MELISSA WELLS.' Repeatedly fending off sexual banter from the two male hosts, Wells is played by DANYELLE SARGENT, a real life host on the 'Fox Final Score' news desk and part of Fox's NFL sideline reporting crew." Hoffarth: "Confused yet as to who's legit and who's playing up the satire? Viewers very well could be" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 3/11).

NAMES: New MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations and former Dodgers manager JOE TORRE is "making his first tour of Spring Training camps," and he visited the Dodgers' at Camelback Ranch Thursday. It was Torre's 12th camp since his appointment two weeks ago (MLB.com, 3/10)....The Univ. of Washington "managed to stay under budget" for the football team's trip to the Bridgepoint Education Holiday Bowl. UW "received a total allowance from the Pac-10 of $1,093,190 and spent $1,089,394." The school reported that it "sold 9,116 tickets and absorbed 1,587 at a cost of $102,130" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 3/8)....NHRA team owner and driver JOHN FORCE will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports HOF April 7 during a ceremony at Texas Motor Speedway. Force "will become the 14th member" and the fourth NHRA driver in the HOF (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/9). The HOF also will award ESPN.com motorsports writer TERRY BLOUNT with the Excellence in Motorsports Journalism Award (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/11).